STATIONARY STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND METHOD

• US 20160375928A1
• Filed: 06/23/2016
• Published: 12/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Magnus, Brian J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,436,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/021 restraining movement of the steering column or steering wheel hub, e.g. restraining means controlled by ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/0215 using electric means, e.g. electric motors or solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/183 adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/2204 with balls

Abstract

A stationary steering wheel assembly includes a steering wheel connected to an axially extending column. The assembly also includes a steering wheel locking component engageable with the steering wheel and moveable between a first position and a second position, the first position locking the steering wheel to prevent rotation and the second position unlocking the steering wheel to allow rotation of the steering wheel.

Claims

1. A stationary steering wheel assembly comprising:

a steering wheel assembly connected to an axially extending column; and

a steering wheel locking component engageable with the steering wheel and moveable between a first position and a second position, the first position locking the steering wheel to prevent rotation and the second position unlocking the steering wheel to allow rotation of the steering wheel.

2. The stationary steering wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the first position is a first radial position and the second position is a second radial position, wherein the steering wheel locking component is in the radial first position in an autonomous driving mode and in the radial second position in a standard driving mode.

3. The stationary steering wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the steering wheel locking component comprises a solenoid.

4. A stationary steering wheel assembly comprising:

a steering wheel;

a steering shaft operatively coupled to the steering wheel;

a lower shaft operatively coupled to the steering shaft;

a steering shaft locking component engageable with the steering shaft and moveable between a first position and a second position, the first position locking the steering shaft to prevent axial translation and the second position unlocking the steering shaft to allow axial translation of the steering shaft.

5. The stationary steering wheel assembly of claim 4, wherein translation of the steering shaft comprises retraction of the steering shaft and the steering wheel toward an instrument panel of a vehicle.

6. The stationary steering wheel assembly of claim 4, wherein the steering shaft locking component is in the first position in a standard driving mode.

7. The stationary steering wheel assembly of claim 6, wherein the steering shaft rotates in response to rotation of the steering wheel when the steering shaft locking component is in the first position.

8. The stationary steering wheel assembly of claim 4, wherein the steering shaft locking component is in the second position in a full autonomous driving mode, the full autonomous driving mode comprising an advanced driving assist system controlling road wheels of a vehicle resulting in rotation of the lower shaft.

9. The stationary steering wheel assembly of claim 8, wherein the steering shaft is operatively coupled to the lower shaft with a ball screw.

10. The stationary steering wheel assembly of claim 9, wherein the ball screw coupling allows the steering shaft to translate upon rotation of the lower shaft in the autonomous driving mode.

11. The stationary steering wheel assembly of claim 4, wherein the steering shaft locking component comprises a solenoid.

12. The stationary steering wheel assembly of claim 4, further comprising a steering wheel locking component engageable with the steering wheel and moveable between a first position and a second position, the first position locking the steering wheel to prevent rotation and the second position unlocking the steering wheel to allow rotation of the steering wheel.

13. The stationary steering wheel assembly of claim 12, wherein the steering wheel locking component comprises a solenoid.

14. The stationary steering wheel assembly of claim 12, wherein the steering wheel locking component is in the first position in an autonomous driving mode and in the second position in a standard driving mode.

15. The stationary steering wheel assembly of claim 4, further comprising a spring pack in operative contact with the steering shaft to bias the steering shaft toward an axial center position to align the steering column locking component and a receptacle dimensioned to receive the steering column locking component in the first position of the steering shaft locking component.

16. A method of controlling a stationary steering wheel assembly of an autonomous vehicle comprising:

disengaging a steering wheel locking component from a steering wheel in a standard driving mode to allow rotation of the steering wheel; and

engaging a steering shaft locking component with a steering shaft in the standard driving mode to prevent translation of the steering shaft and to allow rotation of the steering shaft upon rotation of the steering wheel.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

engaging the steering wheel locking component with the steering wheel in an autonomous driving mode to prevent rotation of the steering wheel; and

disengaging the steering shaft locking component from the steering shaft in the autonomous driving mode to allow translation of the steering shaft and to prevent rotation of the steering shaft in response to rotation of road wheels controlled by an autonomous driving assist system in the autonomous driving mode.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising transitioning from the autonomous driving mode to the standard driving mode in a transition mode, the transition mode comprising:

deactivating the autonomous driving assist system;

biasing the steering shaft with a spring pack to translate to a position aligning the steering shaft locking component with a receptacle dimensioned to receive the steering column locking component;

engaging the steering shaft locking component with the steering shaft in the standard driving mode to prevent translation of the steering shaft and to allow rotation of the steering shaft upon rotation of the steering wheel; and

disengaging the steering wheel locking component from the steering wheel in the standard driving mode to allow rotation of the steering wheel.